Environment legal services solicitors
Diane Gill »
Partner and Practice Group Leader
Practice Group: Environment legal services
Call: 01753 279022
Email: diane.gill@bpcollins.co.uk
Link with Diane
Diane graduated from the University of Newcastle in 2000 with an LLB (Hons), trained at B P Collins and qualified in October 2003. Diane's experience covers a broad range of corporate and commercial matters. She advises on business acquisitions and disposals, cross-border corporate re-organisations and restructuring and general commercial contracts.
Diane has a special interest in and is a member of both the environment team and the charities team.
Outside work, Diane rows and coxes at Staines Boat Club, enjoys travelling and skiing.
Michael Larcombe »
Partner
Practice Group: Environment legal services
Call: 01753 279087
Email: michael.larcombe@bpcollins.co.ukLink with Michael
Michael worked in central government before entering private practice in 1991. After six years with a noted City law firm where he specialised in institutional investment work and general landlord and tenant law, he joined B P Collins in 1997.
Michael has since built up a broad-based commercial property practice acting for industrial and commercial investors and occupiers, clients in the aggregates and waste industries, property entrepreneurs and developers. Michael has been recognised as a leading individual in the Thames Valley for real estate law by Chambers UK, A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession 2008.
back to top
David Smellie »
Partner
Practice Group: Environment legal services
Call: 01753 279034
Email: david.smellie@bpcollins.co.ukLink with David
David graduated from Trent Polytechnic with LLB (Hons) and completed his training at City law firm Davies Arnold Cooper in 1988, becoming a partner ten years later. David joined B P Collins in 2007 as a senior associate in the corporate team bringing with him a wide range of corporate and commercial experience for multinational, listed and growing businesses including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and corporate finance.
David became a partner in 2008 and he has been instrumental in providing prompt and pragmatic solutions to clients, ensuring a no-nonsense approach and attention to detail.
Although a keen sportsman, David will often be found (when away from the office) chauffeuring his four children to their various social and sporting engagements.
Craig Williams »
Partner
Practice Group: Environment legal services
Call: 01753 279037
Email: craig.williams@bpcollins.co.ukLink with Craig
Craig graduated from Warwick University in 2000 and completed the Legal Practice Course in Bristol. He joined B P Collins as a trainee solicitor in 2001, qualified into the Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group in October 2003 and became a Partner in 2010.
Craig is a commercial litigator with particular experience in resolving disputes in the factoring and trade finance, IT, waste management and environmental sectors. He has experience in dealing with regulatory matters and also deals with private client litigation with a particular emphasis on contentious trusts and inheritance disputes.
Craig has a successful track record at Court, with a number of reported decisions including;
- Fairfax Gerrard Holdings Limited v Zargaran [2003] EWHC 3017 QBD (where an interpleader claim was debarred for failure to comply with certain conditions - now one of the leading cases on interpleader proceedings);
- Fairfax Gerrard Holdings Limited v Yazdi & Talab [2004] EWHC 2079 QBD (where the Court rejected the Defendant's case as dishonest and based on fraudulent evidence) and, in the contentious inheritance arena;
- Shah v Joshi [2008] EWHC 1766 Ch (where a will was successfully contested on the basis that it was a forgery).
Craig is also an experienced dispute resolution advocate and has successfully settled a variety of commercial and private client disputes at mediation and as part of a broader range of ADR mechanisms.
Craig's interests outside of work include rock climbing and mountain walking.
Alex Zachary »
Partner
Practice Group: Environment legal services
Call: 01753 279022
Email: alex.zachary@bpcollins.co.ukLink with Alex
Having qualified in 1999, before becoming a partner of the firm in 2007, Alex leads substantial corporate transactions as well as undertaking a wide mix of other corporate and commercial work, with a particular emphasis on the technology and environmental sectors.
Alex's technical and negotiating skills are regarded as second to none in the region, whilst he is, at the same time, commercially aware, pragmatic and sympathetic to client needs.
Alex manages a number of key client relationships including:
º The Biffa / Greenstar group
º The Norgine group
º The Sealwood group
Corporate transactions of significance include advising:
º NTR plc on the £135m sale of the Greenstar group to Montagu Private Equity and Global Infrastructure Partners
º The Greenstar group on the acquisitions of:
· Verdant Group plc, one of the largest independent municipal services providers to UK local authorities
· Dunstable Waste Group Limited
· Leicester Paper Processors Limited
· M&B Haulage and Waste Paper Co Limited
· Network Waste Solutions Limited
· Waste Exchange Services Limited
º The lead shareholders of Cliniserve Limited on the disposal of Cliniserve to the Stericycle group
º The management team on the MBO of TQ Group Limited
A keen sportsman, Alex is a regular footballer, occasional golfer and enthusiastic Tottenham Hotspur supporter.
Sue Deacon »
Senior Associate
Practice Group: Environment legal services
Call: 01753 279018
Email: sue.deacon@bpcollins.co.ukLink with Sue
Sue graduated with an LLB (Hons), qualified in 2004 and joined B P Collins from Allen & Overy in 2006.
Sue deals with commercial property matters, involving shops, factories and warehouses for a spectrum of clients, including charities, individuals and businesses.
When not at work she enjoys travelling, drawing and painting, reading and going to the gym.
Harriet Jones »
Associate
Practice Group: Environment legal services
Call: 01753 279075
Email: harriet.jones@bpcollins.co.ukLink with Harriet
Harriet graduated from the University of Liverpool with an LLB (Hons) in 2005, trained at B P Collins and qualified in October 2008 as a corporate and commercial solicitor. She advises on a range of commercial and contractual matters and is involved in business acquisitions and disposals. Harriet has a particular interest in and is a member of both the environment and information technology teams. Outside work, Harriet enjoys going to the gym, cooking, and trying to improve her tennis serve.
